The display of saris of all hues and patterns makes an appearance as if the vivid colours from the palette were splashed all over the wall.
While modernity has its due share, the ethnic patterns and bright handmade prints reign supreme at the Lepakshi Handloom and Handicrafts Exhibition currently under way at Sindhura Hall in Tirupati. Be it our own Pochampally and Kalamkari or the equally-traditional Kolkata or Bhagalpuri prints, all eyes are on the traditional wear, including saris, salwars, tops or even the linen range.
Women throng the stall selling Kalamkari saris of Bandar (Krishna district). “The colour and texture of traditional Kalamkari saris improve with washing and is comfortable to wear”, explains S. Kiranmayee, who has visited the stall twice in a week. There is a significant increase in the number of ‘repeat customers’ here. The stall by Kolkata-based Bishakha Chatterjee sells limited number of high-value saris, especially with Kantha work, hand Batik, Arya work, acid painting and wine painting. “My target customers are the connoisseurs of fine art”, she says.
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Saris from the Gujarati stall have the typical imprint of “Dandiya-playing women” along the border, while the handmade “Warli print” is the mainstay. “Ours is traditional khadi cotton”, says Jagdish Raj from Ahmedabad. The Bhagalpuri stall has saris made of tussar, kosa and moonga silk. “The varieties depend on the nature of cocoons”, said Shahenshah from Bhagalpur. The Kolkata silk sari stall also has eye-catching saris. “Though our material is Bhagalpuri, the prints are of Kolkata ink, which is considered much durable”, explained the stall in-charge Raza.
“There is indeed a great response for traditional wear and ethnic designs, which is why we are inviting more artisans to our expo”, said Lepakshi senior manager K. Sreehari. The expo ends on January 11.